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Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
[email protected] www.ancawr.org
PRESS RELEASE
May 10, 2012
Contact: Tereza Yerimyan
Tel: 818-500-1918
UPDATE: 200 ANCA-WR ACTIVISTS GATHER AT THE CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL
SACRAMENTO - Nearly 200 activists, from every corner of California,
joined the Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
(ANCA-WR) on Thursday, April 19, 2012, for the Commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide in the California State Legislature. A busload of
activists making the trip from Southern California was escorted
through Los Angeles by an official send-off by the `Hye Riders'
Motorcycle Club.
Participants observed the State Senate and Assembly commemorations
which recognized various community groups including the ANCA-WR and
were spiritually inspired by an invocation from Archbishop Mousegh
Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The day's events were highlighted by passage of two Armenian Genocide
Resolutions. Notably, Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian, the only
Assembly Member of Armenian descent, introduced and ushered passage of
House Resolution 27 which strongly recognizes the Armenian Genocide,
designates April 18 - 24, 2012 as a `Week of Remembrance for the
Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923,' and calls on the Congress and
President of the United States to formally and consistently recognize
the Armenian Genocide's historical truth.
`The State Legislature's commemorative events and passage of not one,
but two Armenian Genocide resolutions, once again highlight
California's role at the forefront of genocide awareness and
recognition of the Armenian Genocide in particular,' said Armen
Garabedian, ANCA-WR California State Affairs Committee Chair.
Alongside the commemorative events, the ANCA-WR held its annual
Advocacy Day in the State Capitol through which participating
activists were able to educate state legislators about issues of
concern to the Armenian-American community. "I had an incredible
opportunity to sit in on a meeting with my Assembly Member, Felipe
Fuentes, which really gave me insight of how politics work outside of
the classroom. My participation in the Genocide Commemoration on the
Assembly and Senate Floors allowed me to apply what I had been
studying for the past three years to the real world. [...],'stated
Ellen Oganesyan, ASA president at the University of California, Santa
Barbara.
She continued, `As an Armenian-American and direct descendant of an
Armenian Genocide survivor, Advocacy Day enhanced every aspect of my
involvement as an activist against human rights violations."
Throughout the day and during a reception hosted by several
legislators, the ANCA-WR displayed images of Armenian Church
properties which have been intentionally destroyed or left in tragic
disrepair by the Turkish government in what is historic Armenia.
House Resolution 27 also calls for the restoration of rights due to
the `rightful church and lay owners' of similarly situated properties.
`Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is so much more complicated than
a simple recognition of a historical fact=85 The current state of
Armenian churches and other properties wrongfully confiscated during
the Genocide is just one tangible aspect of this multi-faceted
reality,' noted ANCA-WR California State Affairs Committee member,
Arpie Jivalagian.
The day was concluded with a screening of `My Mother's Voice' by Dr.
Kay Mouradian. Dr. Mouradian is a novelist and educator who has
written about her personal experiences confronting the reality of
genocide in her own family. My Mother's Voice is a documentary based
on Dr. Mouradian's book, `A Gift in the Sunlight.' Dr. Mouradian, a
participant in Advocacy Day, also fielded questions from the audience.
`Ultimately, Advocacy Day is an opportunity for community members to
actively and actually participate in the political process in
furtherance of issues relevant to Armenian-Americans including those
beyond Genocide recognition. This year's strong turnout is
encouraging and underscores the significance of our community's
invaluable asset - its activists,' added Garabedian.
Special Message: On May 20, the 2012 ANCA Telethon will bring
thousands of people together from coast to coast in support of the
educational, charitable, and civic involvement programs of the ANCA
Endowment Fund. Be a part of the excitement! To learn more, visit
www.ancatelethon.org.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
###
ATTACHED: Photos with captions and credits
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918
[email protected] www.ancawr.org
PRESS RELEASE
May 10, 2012
Contact: Tereza Yerimyan
Tel: 818-500-1918
UPDATE: 200 ANCA-WR ACTIVISTS GATHER AT THE CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL
SACRAMENTO - Nearly 200 activists, from every corner of California,
joined the Armenian National Committee of America - Western Region
(ANCA-WR) on Thursday, April 19, 2012, for the Commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide in the California State Legislature. A busload of
activists making the trip from Southern California was escorted
through Los Angeles by an official send-off by the `Hye Riders'
Motorcycle Club.
Participants observed the State Senate and Assembly commemorations
which recognized various community groups including the ANCA-WR and
were spiritually inspired by an invocation from Archbishop Mousegh
Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The day's events were highlighted by passage of two Armenian Genocide
Resolutions. Notably, Assembly Member Katcho Achadjian, the only
Assembly Member of Armenian descent, introduced and ushered passage of
House Resolution 27 which strongly recognizes the Armenian Genocide,
designates April 18 - 24, 2012 as a `Week of Remembrance for the
Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923,' and calls on the Congress and
President of the United States to formally and consistently recognize
the Armenian Genocide's historical truth.
`The State Legislature's commemorative events and passage of not one,
but two Armenian Genocide resolutions, once again highlight
California's role at the forefront of genocide awareness and
recognition of the Armenian Genocide in particular,' said Armen
Garabedian, ANCA-WR California State Affairs Committee Chair.
Alongside the commemorative events, the ANCA-WR held its annual
Advocacy Day in the State Capitol through which participating
activists were able to educate state legislators about issues of
concern to the Armenian-American community. "I had an incredible
opportunity to sit in on a meeting with my Assembly Member, Felipe
Fuentes, which really gave me insight of how politics work outside of
the classroom. My participation in the Genocide Commemoration on the
Assembly and Senate Floors allowed me to apply what I had been
studying for the past three years to the real world. [...],'stated
Ellen Oganesyan, ASA president at the University of California, Santa
Barbara.
She continued, `As an Armenian-American and direct descendant of an
Armenian Genocide survivor, Advocacy Day enhanced every aspect of my
involvement as an activist against human rights violations."
Throughout the day and during a reception hosted by several
legislators, the ANCA-WR displayed images of Armenian Church
properties which have been intentionally destroyed or left in tragic
disrepair by the Turkish government in what is historic Armenia.
House Resolution 27 also calls for the restoration of rights due to
the `rightful church and lay owners' of similarly situated properties.
`Recognition of the Armenian Genocide is so much more complicated than
a simple recognition of a historical fact=85 The current state of
Armenian churches and other properties wrongfully confiscated during
the Genocide is just one tangible aspect of this multi-faceted
reality,' noted ANCA-WR California State Affairs Committee member,
Arpie Jivalagian.
The day was concluded with a screening of `My Mother's Voice' by Dr.
Kay Mouradian. Dr. Mouradian is a novelist and educator who has
written about her personal experiences confronting the reality of
genocide in her own family. My Mother's Voice is a documentary based
on Dr. Mouradian's book, `A Gift in the Sunlight.' Dr. Mouradian, a
participant in Advocacy Day, also fielded questions from the audience.
`Ultimately, Advocacy Day is an opportunity for community members to
actively and actually participate in the political process in
furtherance of issues relevant to Armenian-Americans including those
beyond Genocide recognition. This year's strong turnout is
encouraging and underscores the significance of our community's
invaluable asset - its activists,' added Garabedian.
Special Message: On May 20, the 2012 ANCA Telethon will bring
thousands of people together from coast to coast in support of the
educational, charitable, and civic involvement programs of the ANCA
Endowment Fund. Be a part of the excitement! To learn more, visit
www.ancatelethon.org.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
###
ATTACHED: Photos with captions and credits